HOW TO DISPUTE YOUR DEBT IN PENSACOLA

Many consumers are unaware that they have powerful
rights to dispute third party debt collectors. You may not know that it is
possible to dispute a debt. Most creditors want consumers to remain in the dark
and use shame tactics to keep people from learning their rights.

When
can I dispute a debt in Florida?

If
you feel you are being wrongly charged with the debt and you believe that the
debt is not yours;

If
you discover there are discrepancies in the account; or

You
are uncertain about the debt.

Any of the above reasons call for you to dispute the
debt with the creditor. A debt collection agency may tell you that you lack the
right to dispute the debt or that the time to dispute the debt has elapsed.
Well, good news! You can and you should dispute the debt. You are entitled to
dispute a debt. Do not allow debt collectors hoodwink you into thinking
otherwise.

How
to dispute your debt

A debt collector will generally send you a letter demanding
that you pay the debt to that agency. The letter should include information
regarding your rights to dispute the debt, however, it may not be obvious. Many
collection agencies place the information towards the foot of the letter or on
the second page. Look for the information regarding your rights to dispute the
debt and then take them up on that offer, especially when you believe the debt
is incorrect.

This disclaimer means you have the right to request
that the debt collector provides you with authentic verification from the
original creditor. It is a violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act for a debt collection agency to harass the debtor to pay a disputed debt or
to take abusive measures to squeeze money from debtors.

You should dispute such debt within 30 days or inform
them it is disputed. The current creditor or collector is under an obligation
to furnish the debtor with necessary information about the previous creditor if
the ownership of the debt has changed hands.

Send
a dispute letter to the collection agency

You need to send your dispute letter to the debt
collection agency and include the following information:

You should also include a request for the debt not to
be reported to credit agencies before resolution of the dispute or a request to
have the debt removed if it has already been reported.

Request such information as the name and contact
information of the original creditor, the basis for the debt, the name of the
debt collection agency if any, and other relevant details of the account, like
dates of previous payments and the amount alleged to be due and owing. The three
main credit reporting agencies should be provided with a copy of the dispute
letter.

If unfortunately, the matter has already reflected on your
credit report before the dispute is resolved, it could negatively impact your
credit score. Write a second dispute letter to the credit reporting agencies,
reporting the inaccuracy of the information regarding the debt. You should
proceed to request that they correct or remove it entirely. The contact
information for those agencies is listed below:

The “Big Three” nationwide CRAs (Equifax, TransUnion,
and Experian) all allow you to dispute your claim in three different
manners: mail, telephone, or
online. Their contact information is
listed below:

It’s always a good idea to access your credit history
at www.annualcreditreport.com
to determine whether the report has been removed. Contact a consumer protection
attorney to follow up with any questions about the best way to dispute a debt
in Florida.

Carrie Cromey has practiced law for nearly 15 years and is highly skilled in all matters pertaining to bankruptcy and debt resolution. Jason is a veteran criminal defense attorney and also has extensive experience with personal injury cases.

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The firm is located in the seat of Escambia County in beautiful Pensacola, Florida. We handle cases throughout the Pensacola metro area including Pensacola, Cantonment, Navarre, Pace, Gonzalez, Ensley, Brent, Myrtle Grove, Milton, Ferry Pass, Gulf Breeze and surrounding areas.